The Three Jewels of Taoism: Qi

In traditional Chinese culture, the second of the Three Jewels (also known as The Three Treasures) is Qi (Chi), an active energetic principle that is part of all living organisms.

Chi or Qi can be thought of as life-force energy – the energy which vitalizes our bodies, and which empowers our movement.  This movement consists not only of locomotion, but also includes the movement of the breath and lungs, the coursing of our blood through the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, digestion, and the functional movements of all of our organs.

Qi is associated most particularly with the Liver and Spleen organ systems. If we think of Jing as a candle, then Chi is the candle flame - the energy produced via the transformation of the wax into fire. In our computer analogy, if Jing can be said to be your computer hardware, then Qi is the electricity that powers the system. Qi is the energy or life force that “boots up” our bodies.

In Tantric Qigong, we say that there are three types of Chi: Heavenly Qi, Earthly Qi, and Personal Qi.  Heavenly Chi is the robust energy that resides in the air or atmosphere and is sometimes known as the solar principle. Heavenly Chi is related to the naturally occurring negative ionic charge that is generated by the atmosphere and its interaction with solar radiation. One reason we feel revitalized in the mountains or at the beach is that these areas are naturally abundant with Heavenly Qi. In some systems, Heavenly Chi is thought to be closely related to the evolution of Cosmic Consciousness. It is sometimes thought of as the Masculine Principle.

Earthly Chi is resident in the earth and may be more naturally accessible in geographic areas with crystalline formations or vortices, such as those near Sedona, Arizona. Sometimes thought of as the Feminine Principle, Earthly Chi seems to have a grounded, generative, and healing quality. In Tantra Yoga, this earthly polarity is said to be directly linked to our sexual energy, so it would have some direct interface with what the Taoists call Jing (Ching).

Ordinarily, in persons not trained in Tantric Qigong, Earthly Chi is absorbed and transported within the body through the digestion and metabolization of food. Heavenly Qi is absorbed unconsciously through the process of autonomic breathing. Part of Tantric Qigong training and discipline is to learn how to master and absorb these energies more consciously and powerfully through certain Chakras and meridians. In some forms of External Qigong, Qi is the energetic force which can be radiated from a Master’s hands for healing purposes. This type of Chi is called Emitted Qi.

Earthly Qi interacts with Heavenly Qi to form our Personal Chi, which is a combination of these energies that abide within our bodies vitalizing our Soma and empowering our Psyche.  The relative levels of our vitality, intelligence, and the plane that our consciousness evolves to are partially determined by our ability to consciously absorb, transmute, and direct this Qi. Thus, one who masters the absorption, generation, and direction of Qi will have a tendency towards improved health, higher intelligence, and ease of spiritual evolution.

Next: The Three Jewels of Taoism:  Shen

Jing, Qi, Shen

Presencing - The Power of Now

Instruction & Coaching email for info on instruction

Learn Tantric Qigong

The Three Jewels of Taoism: Jing

The Three Jewels (sometimes called the Three “Treasures) - Jing, Qi and Shen – are energies cultivated through the practice of Tantric Qigong (Chi Kung, Chi Gong), T’ai Chi, and certain Yoga and Tibetan disciplines. Jing (Ching), Qi (Chi) and Shen, may be translated as Essence, Vitality, and Spirit.

A Tantric Qigong practitioner studies techniques to convert Jing into Qi and then into Shen (the path of transmutation) – and also to transmogrify Shen into Qi and Jing – (the path of generation or manifestation). The Three Jewels can also be thought of as three frequencies of a common energy. Practitioners of the Inner Alchemy of Tantric Qigong (Neidan or Neigong) learn to control and transmute the frequency of their energy and consciousness along this spectrum – choosing the wave length they desire as we might we might choose a particular TV or radio station.

Jing
The most concentrated or densely vibrating energy is Jing. Of the Three Jewels, Jing may be the one associated most closely with our physical body. Jing is said to reside in the lower dantian (Tan Tien), or the Kidney System (sometimes thought of as kidney essence), and manifests itself partly as the reproductive energy of the sperm and ova. Jing can be stored in the kidneys and is the most primal energy within the body (Chi or Qi and Shen are progressively “lighter” or more refined in their vibration). Jing is said to be the basis for our physical bodies and is yin in nature, which means it is nourishing and cooling to the body. Jing is also thought to be the vehicle of our heredity - a concept similar that of DNA.

Jing is often considered the root of our life force, the physical substance out of which our life evolves. Jing may be likened to a wire through which the electricity of Qi is transmitted. One can also think of Jing as being analogous to the hardware of a computer – the physical foundation of an operating system. In this metaphor, Chi would be the electricity, and Shen the data that appears on your monitor.

Jing is consumed continuously by the activities of daily life, stress, illness, substance abuse, sexual excess, fear, pain, anxiety, etc. In addition to the practice of Qigong and T’ai Chi, Jing can be restored through dietary and herbal supplements, and balanced through acupuncture.

In women, Jing can be depleted through abnormally heavy menstruation and pregnancy. Some Taoist lineages promote exercises to diminish menstruation, reserving and recycling the energy that would be lost through the menstrual blood. There are corresponding Taoist and Tantric exercises for men.

In men, generation and replacement of semen lost through excessive sexual activity resulting in ejaculation contributes to the depletion of Jing. Some ancient texts actually define Jing (Ojas in the Tantra Yoga tradition) as semen, although this metaphor is not quite accurate.  Semen contains and is energized by Jing energy, but Jing can also be expressed as ova, sexual energy in general, and bone marrow. In addition, through the practice of Taoist sexology and certain Tantric Kundalini techniques, the Jing or Ojas can be withdrawn from the semen, preventing its depletion.

Most ancient masters consider Jing to be the raw material of Qi (Chi), though some have said that Jing is an expression of Chi. Obviously, vitality and sexual energy are closely related, so it may be a bit pedantic to argue which came first, sex or life force, chicken or egg. Even in the Tantra Yoga tradition, these energies of the lower chakras are so closely related and wired together that artificial distinctions are ordinarily not that valuable. © 2010 Keith E. Hall, www.inner-tranquility.com All rights reserved.

Next: The Three Jewels of Taoism: Qi

Jing, Qi, Shen.

Presencing - The Power of Now

Instruction & Coaching email for info on instruction

Learn Tantric Qigong

Tantric Qigong for Self-Mastery

.

.

Qigong, T’ai Chi, and Menopause

Menopause is a natural change in a woman’s life cycle that afflicts all women at some time. And the men that annoy them. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. The ovaries make less of these hormones over time. The specific symptoms and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) they are varies from woman to woman…A gradual decrease of estrogen generally allows your body to slowly adjust to the hormonal changes. Hot flashes and sweats are at their worst for the first 1 - 2 years. Menopause may last 5 or more years…As a result of the fall in hormone levels, changes occur in the entire female reproductive system. The vaginal walls become less elastic and thinner. The vagina becomes shorter. Lubricating secretions from the vagina become watery. The outside genital tissue thins. This is called atrophy of the labia.”*

Symptoms
“In some women, menstrual flow comes to a sudden halt. More commonly, it slowly stops over time. During this time, the menstrual periods generally become either more closely or more widely spaced. This irregularity may last for 1 - 3 years before menstruation finally ends completely. Before this the cycle length may shorten to as little as every 3 weeks.

Common symptoms of menopause include:
- Heart pounding or racing
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Skin flushing
- Sleeping problems (insomnia)

Other symptoms of menopause may include:
- Decreased interest in sex, possibly decreased response to sexual stimulation
- Forgetfulness (in some women)
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety
- Urine leakage
- Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse
- Vaginal infections
- Joint aches and pains
- Irregular heartbeat.

Lifestyle Changes
Women taking hormone Replacement therapy (HRT) see some benefits. But they also increase their risk for breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. The good news is that you can take many steps to reduce your symptoms without taking hormones:

- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods
- Dress lightly and in layers
- Eat soy foods
- Get adequate calcium and vitamin D in food and/or supplements
- Get plenty of exercise
- Perform Kegel exercises daily to strengthen the muscles of your vagina and   pelvis. (The Taoist and Tantric  versions of these exercises are more developed and so potentially even more helpful.)
- Practice deep conscious breathing whenever a hot flash starts to come on (try taking six breaths per  minute)
- Remain sexually active (the extended love making techniques of Tantra and Taoist sexology undoubtedly help)
- See an acupuncture specialist
- Try relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Dr. Herbert Benson, author of “The  Relaxation Response,” suggests that Tai Chi is “…vitally important in PMS, infertility, hot flashes,  insomnia,…”**   He also says that “Repetition is key to creating the response.”***
- Use water-based lubricants during sexual intercourse.”*

Qigong for Abating Menopause Symptoms
While for most women menopause can be a difficult time, the Taoists consider menopause to be a “Second Spring” of life. It is certainly an opportunity to renew and deepen your T’ai Chi and Tantric Qigong practice.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the symptoms associated with menopause are caused due to the body’s chi being disturbed. By practicing Qigong and T’ai Chi, this disrupted chi can be more evenly distributed and some of the uncomfortable symptoms can be ameliorated.

Regular practice of qigong and T’ai Chi can alleviate the irritability and stress associated with menopause by creating pelvic health and balancing emotional and hormonal swings.  It has also found to help increase the bone density in women, thus reducing the chance of post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Qigong may restore a woman’s sex drive, which can be decreased during in menopause. The regular practice of qigong tends to increases the levels of sex hormones thus restoring a healthy sex drive. One study showed that after a year of qigong practice, hormones were restored to near normal levels.****

A study published in the Oxford Journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine on eighteen women measured the effects of regular Qigong practice on chromic fatigue symptoms and the menopausal symptoms of night sweats, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea. The results showed improvement in the areas of sleep, energy and well-being. Qigong improved these symptoms of sleep disturbances after three months of practice.*****

Bone loss of up to 2% per year in women may occur after menopause. Prevention of includes optimizing the intake of calcium and vitamin D, exercise, and the optimization of normal menstruation. Stretching, strengthening, impact, and balance exercises are effective. As Qigong raises estrogen levels in women, this can reduce osteoporosis and heart disease. Tai Chi Chuan has proved to be successful in decreasing falls, and may restore bone density.

Kenneth Cohen states that “A wealth of anecdotal evidence suggest that Qigong tends to delay menopause and can extend the years of fertility.” He notes that female qigong masters have even been known to conceive during their sixties.******  One woman in her 50’s began practicing Qigong and after about 10 days  said, “I was amazed that my period reappeared…I celebrated it as a clear indication of rejuvenation.”*******

Instruction and Coaching

Presencing: The Art of Being Present

References:
*www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000894.htm
**my.webmd.com/content/article/25/1728_57992.htm.
***http://www.webmd.com/news/20000530/mysterious-medication-of-meditation
****Ye Ming, et al. Relationship among erythrocyte superoxide dismustase activity, plasma sexual hormones (T, E2), aging and qigong exercise. Proceedings, Third International Symposium on Qigong, Shanghai, China.. 1990:28-32
*****Naropa J. Mike Craske, Warren Turner, Joseph Zammit-Maempe and Myeong Soo Lee. “Qigong Ameliorates Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue: A Pilot Uncontrolled Study.” Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Advance Access published online on August 1, 2007
****** Cohen, Kenneth S. The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing p33
******* B.G., Los Gatos, CA qinway.org/qigong_testimonial.htm

Learn Tantric Qigong™:

.

.

Tantric Qigong, Mindfulness, and Flow

Mindfulness, which is often thought of as a Buddhist concept, is really about being Present.  Presencing is one form of self-inquiry (which can be done as a meditation or as coaching) as is Tantric Qigong.  These art forms are about getting out of your head, your mental analysis, comparison and judgment, and becoming present to what really IS.

It sounds simple, and it is. However, this is not very easy for most people. We are constantly and anxiously analyzing, comparing / contrasting, projecting our assumptions, and judging the world around and within ourselves. Our perceptions are based on our past experiences and our experiences are shaped by our perceptions.  This is why I often maintain that we are continually “lying” to ourselves and others.  Our internal stories about the world and ourselves are supreme acts of creation in that each person’s world becomes based more and more on this mental / perceptual editing.  How can we know what is real?  How can we ascertain what is truly necessary and important in our lives?  What will really sustain our Self, our heart and soul?  Thinking and analyzing isn’t gong to cut it. It hasn’t worked too well so far has it?  Perhaps no-thinking may be more useful.

Even kittens seek release from the Wheel of Karma

All of the multitudinous forms of meditation have elements of stilling the mind and its critical or judgmental aspects, these demons of discernment gone horribly wrong. But have you ever tried stilling your mind? Herding kittens is much easier. Practices such as Vipassana, Zen, T’ai Chi, Yoga, and Tantric Qigong all have techniques to bring one out of the maze of one’s thoughts and unbridled emotions as one of their goals.  The only difference in these arts is in their approach.

One approach to mindfulness and being present is to focus on the details of our experience.  Walking down the street, noticing every minute part of what is around us.  People, the sun, clouds, every caress of the air upon your cheek, the feeling of your clothes touching your body.  Internally, we can notice body sensations, the character of your emotional flow, the many mental distractions.  Notice them and let them go.

Try this exercise:   Stop and see, touch, and smell the flowers.
A particular flower, perhaps a lily.  Notice its overall form and all of its minutia. The sturdiness of the stalk.  How does it feel to lightly stroke its petals?  Kiss a leaf.  Notice its texture.  Does it kiss back?  The color.  How the hues blend on its petals and leaves.  The subtle patterns within.  The heady incense of its scent.  Pistils droozed, laden with pollen. Can you almost see and hear the grains floating down?  Take plenty of time.  The closer you come into unity with this flower, the more you will become Present and unify your consciousness.

Flow
The river of Tao encompasses all of creation, including every aspect of our lives, whether we realize it or not.  All creativity comes from being “in the zone”, being in alignment with the Tao, from being in flow.  Like water, the flow of Tao is both dynamic (Yang) and still (Yin). When we are truly present to flow, obstacles evaporate, we Do and Be effortlessly, and life is suffused with meaning, abundance, and joy. To be in harmony with the flow of Tao is both power and wisdom, knowing when to do and when to be still, when to utilize Will and when to Surrender in the moment.

Qigong as a Meditation
Using the mind alone to still the mind is fraught with great difficulty. Where you are blind to Self, by definition you cannot see what is needed for equanimity, for inner peace.  You remain blind. When you are stressed, distracted, overwrought with emotions you must keep in check, the mind is a team of horses pulling in many directions at once. It is an almost impossible challenge to attempt to use only mental processes to be present and centered, and to still the raging beasts

Tao is Flow

of the mind.

One of the great aspects of T’ai Chi and Tantric Qigong is the facility with which these arts bring you into mindful presence and flow.  You really can’t let your mind wander; you’ll forget what you are doing.  The practitioner must focus his or her attention on one’s stance, sense of grounding, the coordination of subtle movement with deep diaphragmatic breathing, alignment of the body with gravity, and the flow of life force (Chi, Qi, Ki).  The moment your mind wanders you are lost, the efficacy and consciousness of energy flow is diminished. This sort of compels you to come back to mindful presencing.  We begin anew, as we must always do each moment, to align and unify mind, body, and spirit, heart and soul, with the eternal power of Now. © Keith E. Hall and www.inner-tranquility.com

Presencing: the Art of Being. Learn more here.

Tantric Qigong, Taiji, Multiple Sclerosis and the Immune System

Multiple Sclerosis is a condition where one’s immune system dysfunctionally attacks the fatty sheath that insulates nerves. Just like an electrical wire that has been stripped of its insulation, one’s nerves start to short out. The nerve impulses never reach their terminus, which causes those afflicted to begin to lose coordination.

There is still no conclusive etiology for Multiple Sclerosis, though statistically the group at greatest risk consists of Caucasian women born in the northern United States.  Once contracted, the disease manifests itself in numerous symptoms, which tend to be progressive. Often one notices initially some difficulty with balance and walking, followed by a kind of paresthesia, or prickly sensations in various areas of the body. Untreated, persons with MS can develop pain in the eyes and blindness due to optic nerve inflammation. Multiple Sclerosis can result in tremors, slurring of speech, and a gradual deterioration of cognitive function, or even sudden paralysis.

Qigong (Chi Kung) and T’ai Chi (which is a form of qigong) have been shown to be effective in ameliorating and reversing the onslaught of this condition. Qigong and T’ai Chi tend to have an overall balancing effect on the body and psyche. In the case of MS and other autoimmune disorders, these arts will start to bring the immune system back into balance. Where the immune system is too dysfunctionally aggressive, as in autoimmune conditions, the practice of Tantric Qigong will reduce its Yang qualities. Where the immune system is weak, qigong will strengthen its Yang. So balance can be achieved whether one’s immune system is hyperactive or hypoactive.

Though Western medicine remains clueless within its paradigm about the mechanism of qigong healing, MS sufferers can experience significant relief by integrating this healing discipline into their daily routine as the following examples illustrate.

Husted et al., in an article published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, noted that this sort of practice could result in multiple sclerosis patients being able to increase their walking speed (a 21% increase) and hamstring flexibility (a 28% increase). They also noted MS patients improved in vitality, social functioning, mental health, and ability to carry out physical and emotional roles.¹

In a paper on trans-disciplinary approaches for treatment and rehabilitation in neurotraumatology at a joint international congress in Brescia 2004, researchers discussed the application of Qigong for disabled persons whose Chi (Qi) is unbalanced and stagnant, noting one case of a woman legally blind due to multiple sclerosis who was able to regain her sight enough to be able to drive and read.²

There is mounting evidence that qigong can produce significant positive alterations in psychological, neuroendocrine, and immune systems.  Astin et al. reported that 8 weeks of qigong reduced the pain experienced by multiple sclerosis patients.³  Another study also reported qigong’s beneficial effects on general health in patients with muscular dystrophy. 4

In a study investigating the effectiveness of mindful movement in symptom management in people with multiple sclerosis, investigators noticed a broad improvement in symptomatology in practitioners of these arts while the control group showed a continued deterioration in symptoms. The study concluded that “training in mindfulness of movement appeared to result in improved symptom management for…people with multiple sclerosis.” 5

Joni Bell, who has practiced Qigong for 10 years, says “I’ve had multiple sclerosis for 32 years and I was compromised by the disease. My many falls traumatized my left foot, and osteoarthritis resulted. Since incorporating Qigong into my life, my strength and balance have improved remarkably and I seldom fall.” 6

Elaine Silverman, disaffected with her prognosis and treatment plan through conventional western medicine, turned to alternative healing, including qigong, about which she says ” Even genetic conditions can be overcome, as I later learned through the study of QiGong…(it) allows the body to internally slow down, relax, and begin to balance itself.”7

While more research may need to be done to appease the western medical literati, these contemporary results validate the thousands of years of anecdotal evidence accrued by Eastern practitioners of Tantric Qigong, T’ai Chi, and Taoist Tantra. © 2009 Keith E. Hall and www.inner-tranquility.com. All rights reserved.

Learn Tantric Qigong ™ and Presencing ™

.

.

Learn to Meditate:

Introduction to Tantric Qigong

Learn how to improve your health and well being in as little as 10 minutes a day!

Boost your immune system, get grounded and empowered, accelerate Self Mastery and spiritual evolution!

Subscribe to our newsletter for dates and locations for this workshop.

Find out why millions of people have practiced this exercise for thousands of years. Easier and more gentle than T’ai Chi, Qi Gong (Chi Kung) consists of conscious breathing and very gentle meditative movements that generate and circulate life force and consciousness.

The 8 Treasures system of Tantric Qigong can be learned by almost anyone, regardless of his or her physical condition. Practicing these simple exercises results in increased vitality, flexibility, mental focus, and alertness.  Tantric Qigong will noticeably reduce stress levels, and is a gentle non-impact aerobics routine for cardiac and respiratory health.

.

The Learning stages of Tantric Qi Gong include:
1. Relaxing & aligning the body
2. Controlling the breath
3. Focusing the mind-Transmuting the emotions
4. Moving the Chi
5. Development of the Spirit

This introductory workshop is available in a 1 - 2 hour format and is appropriate for anyone who can breathe and move his or her arms!

Learn more about Tantric Qigong here.

Rev. Keith Hall has taught T’ai Chi, Qigong, Tantra, and meditation for 30 years.  He is a senior student of Master Yung-ko Chou, with permission to teach. Rev. Hall has studied at various Mystery Schools and with Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, S. Saraswati, and others. He has also taught Bioenergetics, Tumo, Vipassana, Zen, Spiritual Bodywork, various Yogas, and other Eastern and Western psychospiritual disciplines. Rev. Hall has published articles on East - West disciplines in numerous journals.

Subscribe to our newsletter for dates and locations for this workshop.

The Presencing Process for Enlightenment & Freedom ™

Instruction & Coaching

How does Tantric Qigong™ work?

.

.

.

.

.

Learn Inner Tranquility:

.

.

Learn about Tantra:

Ejaculation Control and Mental, Spiritual, and Physical Health Part 10: Is sex good for your heart? The Caerphilly cohort study

From the Abstract:
Objective: To examine the relation between frequency of orgasm and mortality.
Study design: Cohort study with a 10 year follow up.
Setting: The town of Caerphilly, South Wales, and five adjacent villages.
Subjects: 918 men aged 45-59 at time of recruitment between 1979 and 1983.
Main outcome measures: All deaths and deaths from coronary heart disease.
Result: Mortality risk was 50% lower in the group with high orgasmic frequency than in the group with low orgasmic frequency,

Conclusion: Sexual activity seems to have a protective effect on men’s health.

Men aged 45-59 years were asked by a medical interviewer in a clinical setting about their frequency of sexual intercourse. The responses were reduced to three categories: less than monthly; twice a week or more; and an intermediate category. Men who fell into the “sex two times a week ” category had half the risk of dying from heart disease than that the men who said they had sex only once a month.

The authors dryly note that “Intervention programmes could also be considered, perhaps based on the exciting “At least five a day” campaign aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption—although the numerical imperative may have to be adjusted. The disappointing results observed in health promotion programmes in other domains may not be seen when potentially pleasurable activities are promoted.”*

Interestingly, Gary W. Berger, M.D., a rural American physician wrote to the British Medical Journal with feedback from some of his female patients: “I was caught completely off guard by their response. I was informed in no uncertain terms that if their husbands were ever made aware of this article or given a copy, I would have a very unhappy patient on my hands. I have since taken a random survey of several more married female patients and hospital employees, and have found almost unanimous agreement with the sentiments of my initial group of patients.”

Do country women really hate sex that much? Or do they just really prefer their men to be short-lived? © 2009 Keith E. Hall / Inner-tranquility.com.   All rights reserved.

Coming Next: Data from Down There

Ejaculation Control and Mental, Spiritual, and Physical Health Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

.

.

Instruction & Coaching

contact for info on instruction

Ejaculation Control and Mental, Spiritual, and Physical Health Part 9
Is it really all good?

“In the 19th century it was a disease; in the 20th, it’s a cure.”
–Dr. Thomas Szasz, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at SUNY (on the topic of masturbation)

When reports of this study hit mainstream media there seemed to be a great rejoicing among the masturbatory multitudes. The editors of men’s magazines breathed a collective sigh of, well, relief. “It ain’t bad like mamma said, it’s good for you!” They then scurried off to churn out various cute and funky articles proclaiming the wondrous benefits of wanking.

With all due respect to the one-handed bloggers, on a close examination of the actual research study, I have to say it is not clear that the news is entirely and consistently good. At least to the hyperbolic extent that our masturbators in the media have proclaimed.

First, the data seems to be mixed. Generally, for each increase of 3 ejaculations per week over a lifetime, there was an associated 15% decrease in prostate cancer. However, men who had the fewest ejaculations (3 or less per month) also had a decreased risk.

Leitzmann wrote, “There was a suggestive decreased risk of total prostate cancer observed among men in the lowest category of ejaculation frequency at ages 40 to 49 years and across a lifetime. Whether that finding was due to lower androgenicity among these men remains unknown.” In addition, he states  “…we cannot exclude a possibly greater risk of advanced prostate cancer with higher recent ejaculation frequency…”

Since at the time of the study, the age range was 46 –81 among the participants, it may very well be that a higher number of ejaculations among more mature men does not have the protective effect of a high rate of ejaculation when one is younger.

He also stated that “High ejaculation frequencies during the previous year (1991, with participant age range 46 - 81) and across a lifetime were associated with a suggestive increase in risk of advanced prostate cancer.” Also, a significant weakness of the study is that it did not query the habits of the greatest proponents and practitioners of the art of self-pleasuring: teenage boys.

To further muddy the waters, if you are querying middle aged and older men about their masturbatory habits in their 20’s, accurate and total recall may be a problem. Leitzmann suggested that perhaps  “self-reported ejaculation frequency may have contained some inaccuracy because of its sensitive nature and the need for individuals to recall ejaculation frequency in the distant past. It is possible that the oldest men in our cohort (men aged 81 years in 1992) may not have accurately recalled their average monthly ejaculation frequency from ages 20 to 29 years.” Ya think?     © 2008 Keith E. Hall All rights reserved.

Next: Emission Control and Mental, Spiritual, and Physical Health Part 10: Is sex good for your heart?

Ejaculation Control and Mental, Spiritual, and Physical Health Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

A  Taste  of  Tantra™

An evening of Tantric Bliss, joy, & rediscovering our essential selves.

“Tantra” means weaving together the Earthly and the Divine. By expanding our
consciousness, we stretch the boundaries of our self-definition & so discover our higher nature.

Jade Garden Tantra is a complete and systematic course in Taoist Tantric Kriya Yoga and an accelerated path toward mastery of emotional, physical, mental & spiritual energies. Experience a small taste of this powerful, joyful practice! Unite your sensual and spiritual selves!

This is both an introduction for beginners and sadhana for initiates.

.

- Learn how you can Play your Way to Enlightenment!
- Learn techniques for generating & transmuting energy.
- Unfold the Divine in yourself & transform your relationships into Divine Communion.
- Open your heart to Infinite Love.
- Be introduced to powerful techniques for Evolution,  Empowerment and Spiritual Bliss.
- Experience serenity, & the joy of connecting your heart & soul with others.
- Use your primal energy to improve your physical, emotional, and spiritual well being

This workshop is for singles and couples and you will learn techniques that you can do at home. Non sexual.

Instruction & Coaching

Contact for info on instruction

Tantra and Relationship

Q. Maya writes: So please tell me, how can tantra help me and my husband?

A. Well, where to begin? The benefits of Tantric meditation with a partner or potential partner are so numerous. Most therapists acknowledge that communication is the key to a healthy relationship. While this is true, the approaches to authentic communication tend to center almost solely on mental / verbal thereapuetic techniques. Certainly, skills such as active listening are very important to understanding, and I do teach and unitize these in my counseling.

Taoist Tantra
In Taoist Tantra we realize that a mental / verbal approach is not the only, and perhaps not even the most efficient, modality for facilitating communication. If you think about it, the root of this word is “commune,” which certainly can imply a deeper connecting than talking usually achieves. To be in communion is a state of total unity: heart and mind, body and soul. This happens first within oneself, then with another, finally between you and the Divine.

The emotions are often inflamed and in confusion. The mind may also be confused and seek to create “stories” or self directed “movies” about the experience of mental and / or emotional confusion, to rationalize, to defend our position and our confusion. When, as is fairly typical, we come to relationship “wounded” and fragmented within ourselves, this relating will always present to us “learning” or “healing” opportunities. We need to recognize the opportunity when presented and develop the skills necessary to transmute what we experience as confusion or wounding into freedom and wisdom.

The Body Never Lies
The body, on the other hand, never lies. It doesn’t know how to. Our experience, our life, is always truthfully written to the “hard drive” of the body, albeit in a “Somatic Code.” I often think of this as kind of our own personal “DaVinci Code.” This is certainly the basis of Bioenergetic Analysis, Neo Rechian, and other similar growth processes. Since the body is the repository of the truth of our experience in our lives, it would behoove ourselves to become Present and decipher the code. By doing this, we will attain ever greater freedom and wisdom. Taoist Tantra works to reunite the mind, body, emotions, and spirit while providing you with many pleasant techniques to become Present, which is key to self knowledge.

Knowledge of Self is crucial both to spiritual evolution and high level relationships. Whether you intend to go through life solo, or to create a conscious relationship, first “know thyself.” Understanding what makes yourself tick will empower your personal responsibility, understanding, empathy, and compassion. If your partner has similar skills, or desires to, then there will be less and less energy spent in conflict, and more invested in contented bliss.

Taoist Tantra Activates, Transmutes, and Harmonizes
In Taoist Tantra we first activate Qi (Chi, life force), which powers our bodies, emotions, mind, and sexuality. We then transmute and circulate this energy via certain Tantric techniques. We attune to, and harmonize with, both our disparate “selves” and our connection to our present or potential partner. At this point we can unify ourselves and deeply come into union (Communion) with another and with the Divine. We can be Awakened, be Present, free from the past (karma), free from expectations and anxieties, whether conscious or subconscious, about what is to come.

If you are a single person with a solitary yoga or Taoist practice and desirous of personal growth, or if you are seeking to harmonize with another in a relationship, you are part of the same spectrum of self realization that Taoist Tantric practices help you achieve. I would invite you and your husband to participate in our Taoist Tantra offerings. Let the journey begin! © 2006 Keith E. Hall

Instruction & Coaching

Meet Your Spiritual Soul Mate!

Dating for Adults Only!